Giuliani has been under pressure to hand over assets to pay $148 million in fines to Georgia election workers he allegedly defamed.

A U.S. judge has found Rudy Giuliani, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump, in contempt of court for failing to adequately respond to requests for his assets.

Monday marked the second day of Giuliani’s contempt hearing, with U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman ultimately finding that he “willfully violated the clear and unequivocal orders of this court.”

It’s the latest chapter in an ongoing civil case involving former New York City Mayor Giuliani. easy for defamation of allegations following the 2020 presidential election.

In December 2023, a Washington, D.C., jury convicted Giuliani should pay $73 million in damages and $75 million in penalties against two election workers he falsely accused of vote tampering.

Giuliani responded to Trump’s own baseless claims that his defeat in 2020 was the result of widespread election fraud.

Giuliani’s accusations made two election workers, mother Ruby Freeman and daughter Wandria “Shaye” Moss, the target of repeated harassment and death threats, according to attorneys.

On Monday, Judge Liman said Giuliani “exceeded” a Dec. 20 deadline by failing to provide details about his Palm Beach, Florida, condo that could be used as an asset to pay the fine.

Lawyers for Moss and Freeman also accuse Giuliani of ignoring their requests for information while trying to collect money owed.

For example, they said Giuliani did turn over a Mercedes-Benz to authorities, as well as a New York Apartmentbut he failed to provide the documents needed to monetize it.

They also allege that Giuliani failed to turn over sports memorabilia, watches and funds in a “non-exempt cash account” that could have been used to pay millions of dollars in fines.

Monday’s decision focused on the Palm Beach condo that Giuliani claimed as his primary residence to prevent it from being seized.

But Aaron Nathan, an attorney for the mother and daughter election workers, accused Giuliani of withholding documents that would prove Palm Beach is not his permanent residence, making it another possible source of assets for punishment.

However, Giuliani’s attorney, Joseph Cammarata, argued that time was too tight to provide all the information needed, although he stressed that Giuliani did try.

“Everyone is following the rules,” Cammarata said. “There is no contempt of court.”

Giuliani himself admitted that he was hesitant to hand over some documents, fearing that the requests were too broad or even a legal “trap.”

He also quoted heavy price He was distressed by the numerous legal cases he faced.

exist GeorgiaGiuliani, for example, is involved in a stalled but ongoing criminal case accusing Trump and his allies of leading a criminal enterprise to overturn the 2020 election.

At the same time, in Arizonathe former mayor is part of a separate criminal indictment, also for spreading election falsehoods.

Giuliani, 80, estimated that competing demands made it “impossible to function in an official manner” a third of the time. He said he had not “willfully breached” any court order.

But Judge Liman appeared to reject the argument that Giuliani was simply overburdened.

“The fact that he is a busy man and has been dependent on others in the past does not excuse his failure to comply,” Liman said.